Diomande feeling at home after early Rangers 'shock'
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Daily Mirror
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd transfer news: Benjamin Sesko boost as Bruno Fernandes makes demand
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes wants to see more signings before the transfer window slams shut and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is their top target Manchester United are looking to bounce back this season after their worst ever Premier League finish. United finished 15th last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. They have already strengthened their squad with additions of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon, while Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan and Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof have been released. Plenty more incomings and outgoings are expected before the transfer window slams shut, with Ruben Amorim keen to ship out the likes of Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia. Sesko boost Manchester United have received a boost in their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko after it emerged that the striker's RB Leipzig team-mate Lois Openda will not be making the move to Sunderland. United and Newcastle are both interested in signing Sesko, who netted 21 goals in 45 games across all competitions last season. Fellow Leipzig striker Openda had been heavily linked with Sunderland and it is unlikely they would have let two forwards leave in the same window. However, Sky Sports are now reporting that Openda will not be joining Sunderland and that Leipzig are likely to sell Sesko instead. Fernandes' transfer demand Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has said the club need to add "more quality" in the transfer market this summer. "It's improving, but it's not where we want it to be," Fernandes said after United drew 2-2 with Everton in pre-season. "It's a game of football, there's always passion there. Whatever happens, happens. There was nothing spicy there, it's normal, it is part of the game. It's been positive [the US tour] and it's good to create a bond with the players. "We looked a bit lazy today and we need to change that. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a bit more and to have more to do to get into the starting line-up. I think that's what the club and the manager are trying to do and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that." Shearer verdict Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer is confident that Benjamin Sesko will be a success if he joins Manchester United this summer. When asked if Sesko has the skill-set to thrive in England, Shearer told Amazon Prime: "I do, I think it's a matter of who can afford him. There is no doubt that this football club has a history of making an absolute fortune on transfers and this guy could be the next one to come into the Premier League. "Either foot - left or right - which is great to see. The work rate, the work off the ball, he's got all them things and he's got very good technique, good balance and I don't think there is a doubt in my mind that and he would look very comfortable in the Premier League. I do think he has a lot to learn, but he can learn no doubt."
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Russell Martin's post-Motherwell Rangers criticism came from ‘love and care'
The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. 🎙️ Russell Martin spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday's match against Viktoria Plzeň. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 'We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. 'If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. 'I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.' ✍️ We are today delighted to announce the signing of Finnish international Oliver Antman on a four-year-deal. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad. On the task facing his side, Martin said: 'The game is going to be tough. 'They are really powerful, really strong, play forward quickly, run forward quickly. 'It's a really different test to the Panathinaikos one and it is a really interesting and exciting one for us. 'They have strength in certain areas, but we have to try and turn the game, especially at Ibrox, into the game that we want, move the ball quickly, better than we did the other day. 'We have to really be up for the fight against these guys but I am looking forward to it.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Derek McInnes hopes Tony Bloom enjoyed Hearts' win over Aberdeen
The Brighton owner was at Tynecastle for the first time after recently completing a deal to invest in the Edinburgh club, and he had his name sung by supporters lapping up his bold pre-match declarations that Hearts can win the Scottish title and break into the Champions League. After an early own goal from Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie and a 73rd-minute header from Stuart Findlay sent Hearts top of the fledgling league table, manager McInnes said of Bloom's attendance at the match: 'He'll have loved getting his name sung. I haven't spoken to him yet, I'm meeting him tomorrow. 'We've had a couple of text conversations. I think he would have been encouraged as well, seeing Tynecastle the way it was. I think he would have enjoyed it. He certainly would have enjoyed the result because, as he's said, he just wants to see a winning Hearts team more often than not. That's what we're all wanting.' McInnes smiled wryly when asked about Bloom's bullish comments in the 24 hours leading up to the match, but he said: 'I knew what Tony was going to say, I heard what you guys heard, absolutely no problem with it at all. 'There's so many people, including Tony, who are ambitious and want Hearts to be successful at the club. He's obviously come in with a fresh pair of eyes and came out and shot for exactly what he wants. 'We're trying to make progress and I think we can make progress. Where Tony and others and myself think we can bridge the gap and maybe try and get ahead of others is the confidence they have in the recruitment.' McInnes felt he had 'a team screaming to win the game of football there, absolutely busting'. 'For sheer commitment, guts, effort, I thought we were 10 out of 10,' he said. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin conceded the better team won. 'We had an idea of how we were going to take on the game today in the first half with the ball, and we didn't succeed in that,' he said. 'Hearts put good pressure on us, and then they win these second balls and create a momentum with the crosses. They were better in the first half. 'I think in the second half we got better with the ball and started creating some chances in their box, but we were not really clinical. We were not really there.'
